Updates and Articles, Blogs, and News Releases

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The agency is called the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), but the name may be misleading. In addition to working with small businesses, the SBA is the nation's primary source of assistance to individual homeowners and renters, as well as businesses of any size, when there is a federally-declared disaster.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Even if you are not a U.S. citizen you may be able to receive disaster assistance for the severe storms and flooding Sept. 13 - Oct. 5, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).
FEMA grants help with disaster-related expenses such as repairing your home, renting a temporary place if your home cannot be lived in due to the storm and repairing or replacing lost personal property.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security?s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Ottawa will cease operations at the close of business Saturday, Oct.18. The DRC has served residents and businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding from Sept. 13 to Oct. 5.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Inspectors working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are out in the field assessing property damage from the severe storms and flooding Sept. 13 to Oct. 5.
The President signed a federal disaster declaration on Oct. 3 for seven Illinois counties ? Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle and Will ? and since that time 2,460 inspections have been completed.

CHICAGO, Ill. ? The state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security?s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce that Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Illinois will close on Sundays.
Starting October 19, the centers will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to serve residents and businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding from Sept. 13 to Oct. 5.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a fifth Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in LaSalle County to serve residents and businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on Sept. 13.

Public Assistance (PA): Disaster grant assistance available for communities to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President

Emergency Work (Categories A-B): Work that must be performed to reduce or eliminate an immediate threat to life, protect public health and safety, and to protect improved property that is significantly threatened due to disasters or emergencies declared by the President

Permanent Work (Categories C-G): Work that is required to restore a damaged facility, through repair or restoration, to its pre-disaster design, function, and capacity in accordance with applicable codes and standards